Device for transporting bulky objects such as sport boards

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a transport device for bulky objects such as boogie boards, surfboards and snowboards having an existing anchored attachment on the board. In an embodiment, a strap is strapped around the boogie board, and the anchored leash is linked to the strap forming a shoulder carrying strap. In another embodiment, a strap holds a plurality of boogie boards together and the individuals leash form a shoulder strap to be carried at the same time. In another embodiment, a strap takes the form of an elastic cord with hooks (e.g. a bungee cord) forming a shoulder strap with the anchored board leash. This strap carry system can be extended to other applications beyond boogie board, surf board, snowboard, skis and any objects where there is an anchored attachment.

BACKGROUND

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for transporting bulky objects, such as boogie boards, surfboards, snowboards, and the like.

[0002] Some objects are difficult to transport not because of their sheer weight but because they are bulky. For example, boogie boards and surfboards are difficult to transport from storage to the surf because they are both long and wide. Thus, a child or smaller adult cannot tuck a boogie board under arm and will hold the board by the edge, drag it, or try to balance it on his or her head. The board must be also held tightly in the wind. This grows uncomfortable with distance and still may require both hands, which limits what else can be carried. Snowboards are difficult to transport because they require the person to walk across snow and ice while carefully balancing the board in one hand, using two hands, or dragging the board.

[0003] Devices have been developed to assist in transporting these boards. In one device, a shackle accessory in the form of a bracket is used to secure a cable to a snowboard as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,012,739. This device can include a lock as a security feature but is large, heavy, and relatively high cost. Another device uses three straps all of which are not permanently attached to the board to form a cradle to carry a body board or a surfboard as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,083,692. Another device uses a single shoulder strap with two loop straps that encircle the board as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,377,007. The single shoulder strap and loop straps are not permanently attached to the board. The device also requires multiple tedious and time consuming adjustments on the straps to form the required size for the carrying loops.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention relates to a device for transporting objects that have an anchored attachment. For example, boogie boards, surfboards, and snowboards often have an anchored attachment such as a leash attached to the board at an anchor point. Typically, the free end of the leash of a boogie board attaches to the rider's wrist, while the free end of the leash of a surfboard attaches to the ankle to keep the rider and board together out in the surf. In an embodiment, the invention leverages an anchored attachment to make an effective, much simplified and less expensive transport device.

[0005] In an embodiment, the transport device includes a strap wrapped around a board, secured to the board, and spaced from the anchor point of a leash. The free end of the leash is in turn secured to the strap so that the leash is fixed at one end to the strap and at the other end to the anchor forming a shoulder strap for transporting the board. The transport device is easy to use, lightweight, compact, versatile, and inexpensive. In another embodiment, the user can carry a set of boards by strapping a strap around the width of all of the boards and coupling the free end of each leash to the strap. The boards stay together and can be quickly removed from the transport device by unlocking a strap locking assembly. In another feature, the strap is an adjustable strap or an elastic cord with hooks (e.g. a bungee cord). These devices can be extended to other bulky objects that can be transported beside the sport boards mentioned here as long as they have an anchored attachment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006]FIG. 1A illustrates an embodiment of the strap that is suitable for use in the transport device.

[0007]FIG. 1B illustrates an embodiment of the strap shown in FIG. 1A wrapped around an object.

[0008]FIG. 1C is a sectional view of the strap and object depicted in FIG. 1B.

[0009]FIG. 2A shows an embodiment of a boogie board with an anchored attachment and a strap separated from the board.

[0010]FIG. 2B shows an embodiment of the device to transport a boogie board with the strap around the board and the board leash secured to the strap forming a shoulder carrying strap.

[0011]FIG. 3A shows an embodiment of the device to transport a plurality of boogie boards with the board leashes secured to a strap forming a shoulder strap.

[0012]FIG. 3B shows another embodiment of the strap that is suitable for use in the transport device. The strap uses an elastic attachment cord with hooks.

[0013]FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the device to transport a surfboard.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] The following description includes the best mode of carrying out the invention. The detailed description is made for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention and should not be taken in a limiting sense. The scope of the invention is best determined by reference to the claims.

[0015]FIG. 1A illustrates an embodiment of a strap for use in the transport device. As illustrated the strap 10 has an elastic portion 14, a nonelastic portion 16, and mating buckles 12, 18. The elastic portion 14 is made of an elastic, expandable, durable material such as nylon, rubber, fabric, or another suitable material capable of holding the object. When the object is a boogie board, surf board, or snowboard it should be durable material that is able to withstand harsh weather and salt water. The nonelastic portion 16 of the strap 10 is made of light weight, durable and high strength material such as nylon, a durable fabric, or another suitable material that will not markedly degrade in harsh weather and salt water. The elastic portion 14 and the nonelastic portion 16 can be bonded or sewn together to form a single strap. In another embodiment, the strap 10 includes a single semi-elastic material such as nylon or another suitable material that can be wrapped under tension to an object 17.

[0016] In an embodiment, the strap locking assembly is mating buckles 12, 18 that provide a lock and release mechanism. The buckles can be made of a durable material such as plastic, ABS, or another suitable material. In an embodiment, the buckle 12 is attached to the elastic portion 14, and the buckle 18 is attached to the nonelastic portion 16. In an alternative embodiment, the buckle 12 is attached to the nonelastic portion 16, and the buckle 18 is attached to the elastic portion 14. The gender of buckles can be reversed without difference. The nonelastic portion of the strap is shown as having an excess portion 19 indicating the strap can adjust to the size of the object 17.

[0017]FIG. 1B shows the strap shown in FIG. 1A secured, that is, wrapped securely around the object 17. To secure the strap 10 the initial time, the user adjusts the length of the strap 10 to the size of the object 17 by sliding any excess part 19 of the strap 10 through the strap slot 15 of the buckle 18. By pulling the excess part 19 of the strap 10 through the adjustment slot 15 of the buckle 18 and locking the mating buckles 12 and 18 together the strap 10 will be secured to the object 17 so that the strap 10 does not shift much, if at all, during transport of the object 17. Once adjusted to the dimensions of object 17, coupling the mating buckles 12, 18 will add sufficient tension to secure the strap 10 tightly to the object 17 so in the next use the strap 10 will fit the object 17 without the need for further adjustment. FIG. 1C is a sectional view of the strap 10 wrapped tightly around the object 17.

[0018]FIG. 2A illustrates a boogie board with an anchored attachment that can be used as part of the transport device. The boogie board 28 includes a board 20 of known material such as fiberglass, solid foam, or a hollow sealed plastic structure. The anchored attachment includes a leash 22 and an anchor 24 attaching the leash 22 to the board 20. The anchor 24 allows the leash 22 some freedom of movement, e.g., to rotate with respect to the board 20, but nevertheless anchors the leash 22 to the board 20. In one embodiment, the anchor 24 permanently attaches the leash 22 to the board 20. In another, the anchor 24 attaches the leash 22 to the board 20 in operation, but can be detached. This might be for the purpose of replacing an old leash. The leash 22 is made of a durable strong cord or coil and may include a wrist strap 26 with a Velcro® fastener 27, partly shown. The strap 10 is shown apart from the board 20 as would be typical during surfing.

[0019]FIG. 2B illustrates a transport device secured to a boogie board. As in FIG. 2A, the transport device includes a strap 10, an anchored attachment including an anchor 24 and a leash 22 and a wrist strap 26 with a Velcro® fastener 27. To transport the boogie board 28, the strap 10 is secured to the board 20 as described in FIG. 1B. The wrist strap 26 with a Velcro® fastener 27 forms a loop 30 around the strap 10. In an alternative, the strap 10 includes a ring (not shown) to make it easier to loop and secure the wrist strap 26 to the strap 10. The anchor 24 is spaced from the strap 10 so that the leash 22 once secured at each end to the board 20 forms a shoulder strap to carry the boogie board 28. If the rider is in a hurry to catch the “next wave” upon arrival at the beach, the wrist strap 26 and the Velcro® fastener 27 can be quickly untied and the strap 10 left attached to the board 20. If the strap 10 is uncomfortable during surfing, however, the strap 10 can be removed by unlocking a strap locking assembly such as the mating buckles 12, 18. The leash 22 can be freed from the strap 10 by untying the loop 30 formed by the wrist strap 26 with the Velcro® fastener 27.

[0020]FIG. 3A shows an embodiment of the transport device for transporting a plurality of sport boards such as the illustrated boogie boards 28, 32, 34. Each individual leash 22, 36, 38 is secured to a strap 10 by the wrist straps 26, 40, 42 forming three shoulder straps to be carried by the user at the same time. Thus, the transport device scales to the person's lifting capability. This feature would be particularly useful, for example, at resorts where lifeguards need to transport boards from storage to the beach for guests.

[0021]FIG. 3B shows an alternative embodiment of the transport device where the strap 10 is a commercially available elastic attachment cord 44 made of an elastic cord 46 with hooks 48, 50 attached on both ends (e.g. a bungee cord). The elastic attachment cord 44 wraps around the boogie board 28 with the hooks 48, 50 engaged. The wrist strap 26 of the leash 22 is secured to the elastic cord 46 by wrapping a loop 30 around the cord 46 using the wrist strap 26 with the Velcro®fastener 27. The leash 22 forms a shoulder strap once secured to carry the boogie board 28. The shoulder strap can be disassembled by untying the loop 30 formed by the wrist strap 26 with the Velcro® fastener 27 or quick disengagement of the hooks 48, 50 of the elastic attachment cord 44.

[0022]FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the transport device used to transport a surfboard 51. The transport device could be as described above, but as an alternative uses a strap 64 with a Velcro® fastener 71 as the strap locking assembly instead of the mating buckles 12, 18. In this embodiment, the strap 64 is secured to the front of the board 53 and a leash 54 is secured by an anchor 52 at the back of the board 53. An ankle strap 58 with a Velcro® fastener 56 forms a loop 60 secured around the strap 64 forming a shoulder strap for carrying the surfboard. This embodiment illustrates that the anchored attachment may be at various locations on the sport board and that the strap merely needs to be spaced from that anchor point and that a variety of structures can secure the strap around the board. Those skilled in the art will recognize after review of the specification that the transport devices can be used to transport other bulky objects beside the illustrated sport boards. 

What Is Claimed:
 1. A sport board and transport device, comprising: a sport board having an anchored attachment with an end attached to an anchor point of the sport board and a free end; and a strap wrapped around the sport board and spaced from the anchor point, wherein the free end of the anchored attachment is coupled to the strap so that the anchored attachment forms a shoulder strap for carrying the sport board.
 2. The sport board and transport device of claim 1, wherein the anchored attachment is a leash with a wrist or ankle strap secured to the rider during activities and coupled to the strap during transport.
 3. The sport board and transport device of claim 2, wherein the wrist or ankle strap includes a Velcro fastener and the strap includes a pair of mating buckles for securing the strap to the sport board, wherein the Velcro fastener on the wrist or ankle strap secures the leash to the strap.
 4. The sport board and transport device of claim 1, wherein the strap includes an elastic portion and a nonelastic portion to provide sufficient tension and flexibility.
 5. The sport board and transport device of claim 1, wherein the strap includes a strap locking assembly for locking and unlocking the strap on to the board.
 6. The sport board and transport device of claim 5, wherein the strap locking assembly includes a pair of mating buckles, each buckle attached to an end of the strap for locking and unlocking the strap on to the board.
 7. The sport board and transport device of claim 4, wherein the strap length is adjustable by a combination of tightening or relaxing the strap length and/or the tension from an elastic portion of the strap.
 8. The sport board and transport device of claim 1, wherein the sport board is a board selected from boogie boards, surfboards, and snowboards.
 9. An object and transport device, comprising: an object having an anchored attachment with an end attached to an anchor point of the object and a free end; and a strap secured to the object and spaced from the anchor point, wherein the free end is coupled to the strap so that the anchored attachment forms a shoulder strap for carrying the object.
 10. The object and transport device of claim 9, wherein the strap includes an elastic portion and a nonelastic portion to provide sufficient tension and flexibility.
 11. The object and transport device of claim 9, wherein the strap includes a locking assembly for locking and unlocking the strap on to the object.
 12. The object and transport device of claim 9, wherein the strap includes a pair of mating buckles, each buckle attached to an end of the strap for locking and unlocking the strap on to the object.
 13. The object and transport device of claim 9, wherein the anchored attachment is a leash with the Velcro fastener at the free end, and wherein the strap includes a pair of mating buckles for securing the strap to the object and the Velcro fastener secures the leash to the strap.
 14. A method of transporting a sport board having a leash anchored to the board and a free end, comprising: securing a strap around the sport board and spaced from the location the leash is anchored; and coupling the free end of the leash to the strap around the board, wherein the leash secured at each end to the board forms a shoulder strap for carrying the sport board.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein securing the strap includes wrapping the strap around the board, adjusting the length of the strap by tightening the strap length, and placing the strap under elastic tension.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein securing the strap includes locking a strap locking assembly so that the strap is in tension around the board.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein coupling the free end of the leash to the strap includes looping and fastening a wrist or ankle strap around the strap.
 18. The method of claim 14, wherein coupling the free end of the leash to the strap includes fastening a Velcro fastener of a wrist or ankle strap to form a shoulder strap with the leash to carry the sport board.
 19. The method of claim 14, wherein securing the strap includes buckling a pair of mating buckles wherein each buckle is attached to an end of the strap for locking and unlocking the strap on to the board.
 20. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of placing the leash over the shoulder to transport the board. 